A survey by the National Health Insurance Administration revealed that public satisfaction with the National Health Insurance (NHI) reached a record-high 92% in 2025, while dissatisfaction fell to 6%, also a record low.
However, several experts and medical professionals pointed out that the NHI system still faces significant challenges regarding structural reform.
Eva Teng, spokesperson for the National Health Insurance Civic Surveillance Alliance, stated that while the NHI is inherently a good system, issues such as the increase in out-of-pocket medical items, prolonged waiting times for examinations, and the difficulty of securing outpatient appointments are becoming increasingly apparent. Furthermore, she noted that the opinions of patient groups and consumers are gradually being overlooked in the policy-making process.
Hung Fang-ming, deputy superintendent of Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, pointed out that the financial structure of the NHI has become imbalanced. Hospitals are forced to rely on non-core revenue, such as outpatient services, parking fees, and drug price margins, to subsidize chronic losses in inpatient care and the treatment of acute and serious cases. He suggested that the NHI payment system should incorporate the "value of time" to accurately reflect labor costs for night shifts, holidays, and on-call duties.
Hung Tzu-jen, president of the Taiwan College of Healthcare Executives, stated that the government’s continuous injection of healthcare funding in recent years has accelerated the inclusion of new drugs and technologies into the NHI. The expansion of coverage for high-priced cancer and orphan drugs, along with the adoption of digital payments and hospital transitions, has helped boost public satisfaction and reduce the financial burden on patients.
Chu Yi-hung, chairman of the Taiwan Community Hospital Association, noted that the high level of satisfaction is sustained by the convenience and quality of medical care. However, in a super-aged society, he argued that the NHIA must re-examine its payment structures and cost-effectiveness to ensure that finite resources are allocated more efficiently.
[2025-1-26/United Daily News]
